EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team fell to No. 2 UW-La Crosse 21-14 in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) dual on Wednesday at the McPhee Center. The Blugolds, ranked third in Division III, won four matches but ultimately came up just short in a matchup between two of the top three squads in the country.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Izzy Balsiger (Jr. - Chippewa Falls, Wis.), Travis Moelter (So. - River Falls, Wis.), Zach Sato (Sr. - Oswego, Ill.) and Jared Stricker (Sr. - High Bridge, Wis./Ashland) all won matches for the Blugolds.
- Balsiger won a ranked clash at 125 pounds to start the dual. The junior, ranked No. 6, knocked off eighth-ranked Quintin Wolbert by 12-7 decision.
- Moelter tallied a 5-2 victory in overtime at 133 pounds, giving the Blugolds a 6-0 lead in the dual.
- The Eagles prevailed at 141 pounds to get on the board, but Sato — ranked No. 2 at 149 pounds — countered with a 13-2 major decision to make the dual score 10-4 in the Blugolds' favor.
- UW-La Crosse won back-to-back matches at 157 and 165 to pull ahead 11-10. Top-ranked Stricker gave the Blugolds their final lead of the night with an 11-0 major decision over 10th-ranked Eddie Simes at 174, making the score 14-11.
- The Eagles won the final three matches of the dual to clinch their victory. Two of those three wins were bonus-point victories scored by nationally ranked wrestlers.
UP NEXT
The Blugolds will head west to compete at the Reno Tournament of Champions in Reno, Nevada, on December 22. Wrestling begins at 9 a.m. Pacific.
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